Tire-tightener.



11111579461. Patented 1111 1123, 1901. w; SCHAU.

TIRE TIGHTENEB.

(Application filed Jan. 28, 1901.) (No Model.) 3'Sheets Sheef 2.

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No. 679,l6l. Patented July 23, l90l. w. SCHAU. TIRETIGHTENER.

(Applimtion filed Jan. 28, 1901-) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

u L s linemen snares PATENT @rricu.

lVlLLlAM SCIIAU, OF SHEFFIELD, ALABAMA.

TIRE TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,161, dated July 23,1901.

Application filed January 28,1901. Serial No. 45,095. (No model.)

To all whom it may conserve:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SOHAU, acitizen of the United States,residing at the city of Sheffield, in the county of Colbert and State ofAlabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTire-Tighteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for tightening orsetting the tires of vehicles without removing them from the fellies orwheels.

This invention relates to improvements and advantageous modifications ofthe tiretightener patented to me in United States Letters Patent No.632,152, dated August 29, 1899. I have found some modifications andimprovements in the general design of my improved tire-tightener to bedesirable in order to make the same more efficient to the ends sought,and I find that it has been possible to greatly simplify the structureand increase its effectiveness and the speed of. operation.

The particular objects of thisinvention are, then, first, to simplifythe entire structure; second, to make the structure completely andquickly adjustable for use, making it what might be calledself-adjusting, third,to provide an improved adjusting means foradapting the machine to tires of different widths as well as to wheelsof different sizes; fourth, to provide improved engaging jaws for thetire in this relation that avoid any possibility of injury to the felly;fifth, to provide improved retaining and guiding means for the tire topositively prevent the same buckling or being raised into a loop at thepoint of tightening; sixth, to provide an improved tire-tightener inwhich the working parts are easily accessible, so that it will bepossible by inspection to note the exact adjustment of the machine;seventh, to provide an improved actuating means for the tire-guides,which insures a positive movement of the same in both directions, and,eighth, to provide an improved structure for guiding the tire-tightenerinto position.

Further objects will definitely appear in the detailed description tofollow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in this specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvedtire-tightener as it appears in position on a vehicle-wheel, one of theoperating-lever handles being omitted and the other being shown brokenoff. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail transverse vertical sectionalelevation taken on a line corresponding to line 2 2 of Figs. 1 and 3.Fig-3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional elevation of a machine, takenon a line corresponding to line 3 3 of Figs. 2 and 4. Fig. 4 is anenlarged transverse sectional elevation taken on a line corresponding toline 4 4 of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of one ofthe side plates B, which serves to support the jaws and carry the sameduring manipulation. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view takenon a line corresponding to the curved line 6 6 of Figs. 3 and 5, thecross bolts or bars a a a be ing omitted. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailview of one of the central side plates supporting jaws for theengagement and guiding of the tire at that point. Fig. 8 is an endelevation of the same. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of thenotched washers for use in adjusting the sides to and from each other.Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail plan view of the central top guides forthe tire, showing their connections to adjacent parts. Fig. 11 is asectional view of these plates, taken on line 11 11 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12is a detail View of the interlapping meeting ends of these plates i 2'.

In the drawings all of the sectional views are taken looking in thedirection of the little arrows at the ends of the section-lines, andsimilar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, A A are the main sidepieces,which serve as the principal support and form the mainsupporting-frame. These are of sufficient length to extend beyond theends of the machine and are there curved toward each other to formsuitable clamps for engaging the sides of a wheel when the machine isbrought into operation. These side pieces are ribbed to give themdesired strength Without unduly increasing their weight. They contain"61" tical recesses toward their center, where upright levers C O arepivoted on the pivot-s ff. The upper ends of these levers C 0, there being a pair to each side, are connected together by links D, which are oneccentrics on the ends of the shafts E. Studs E E are provided toreceive hand-operating levers E for actuating the eccentrics to and fromeach other. These levers, eccentrics, and handlevers are substantiallythe same as those described in my former patent hereinbefore referredto.

To clamp the sides A A together, so that they will embrace the sides ofthe wheel, I provide a bolt 1), having a T-shaped head, oval in outline,which is readily inserted through a similarly formed opening and turnedat right angles, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, where it may beheld in position by the staple-like piece 6, so that the nut or bur onthe opposite end may be screwed down and tightened. This is a quick wayof clamping the parts together, as to withdraw the bolt it is onlynecessary to loosen the bur and turn the head to the horizontalposition, when the side plates are released and can be separated andlifted off the wheel. Plates B for carrying the jaw are provided and areloosely supported at each side, so that they may be readily adjusted forthe purpose of fitting the same to the tire of a wheel.Downwardly-projecting portions B are at the outer ends of the same,which extend down and within the said bars or plates A and serve tolocate the parts and keep them in alinement. These plat-es B are exactlysimilar in function to the platesB of my former patent referred toherein. Bosses are provided around the holes thereof to increase thestrength of the coupling andserve as additional guides for the plate.Bolts a a extend through the inner ends of these plates B, (see Figs. 1,3, 4, and 6,) these bolts being pivot-bolts and coupling the inner endsto the upright levers O at each side. A boss is on the outer side of theplate B and an additional strengtheningpartF is provided with a-bossextending into the same and extending to the next bolt a to affordadditional strength to the coupling. The bolt a is provided with a key aand the slots at one end and a threaded bur at the other. A notchedwasher d (see Fig. 9) is provided to enable a quick adjustment for wideor narrow widths of tire or felly by adjusting the same, as clearlyappears in Fig. 6, where the nut is adjusted for a wide tire and couldbe adjusted for a narrow tire by loosening the key or bur ofthebolt,bringing the sides nearer together, and moving the washer towardthe right of the View appearing in Fig. 6. This avoids any extensiveturning of the nuts and secures an even adjustm cut at once. The samekind of washer is provided on all of the bolts (1 a CL 0/. At the outerend of the plates B is located a slotted coupling G, having a lug G atthe bottom,which extends into a slot in the side plate or bar A below.The slot of this part G embraces the reinforcing-lugs of the outer holeof the plate B and is clamped beneath the washer of the clamping-bolt atthat point. This supports the parts always substantially in position forthe preliminary adjustment and enables the perfect adjustment of theside plates B, carrying the engaging jaws after the main side pieces A Ahave been clamped in position. The engaging jaws are made up ofperforated plates t at each side, which are supported by the bolts a aand o. a, respectively. The bolts a a, a are flattened or squared andextend through square or rectangular apertures in the plates B and areadjustable up and down therein, so that when the tire-tightener is inposition these bolts rest upon the tire, and as the bolts carry theplates t with serrated jaws 25 these jaws are always moved to the properposition around the periphery of the wheel for engaging the tire. Thejaws are beveled on the lower side,so that when drawn up and clamped onthe tire they do not come in contact with the telly, but take only astrong grip upon the tire from each side and upset the metal at thecenter when the hand-levers are operated, thus tightening the tire onthe wheel. The central support for the tire of the machine consists ofthe plate I, with a slot above for the key H, the plate havinginwardly-projecting lip h, as in my former structure, and jaws I I arein recesses to each side, as in the former structure, and are heldnormally apart by the spring o. This part is provided with an additionalsupport and attachment to the side pieces. The levers O are slottedvertically, and lugs u, terminating in screwthreaded bolts, extendoutwardly through the slots from laterally-projecting portions at thebottom of the plate I. A slotted connection J, having a washer-like format its upper end, receives the threaded end of the projection 11, and ascrew-nut clamps the same in position. The part J is adjustable up anddown on the rivet f, it being slotted for that purpose. Springs r arebetween each pair of jaws t to hold them normally open.

The guides that rest on the periphery of the tire are in this improvedstructure held in position in such a manner that they can be easilyswung up on hinges, so that the conditions and position of the adjacentparts can be readily ascertained. The outer ends of the parts 11 7 areturned into eyes which embrace the bolts a a at each side. A loop ofspringwire surrounds the bolts a at each side, as clearly appears inFig. 10, and serves to retain and locate these plates centrally, and acenter loop is extended and embraces the next adjacent bolt 0.. As thewire a is of greater thickness than the metal formed into the eye,itrests upon the tire and supports the bolt a at such a height thatthere is very little friction on the part 71, which can be powerfulpressure, operating easily swung up. The inner ends of the parts it aremortised together, so they can move to and from each other. A block ofconsiderable thickness 41" is superimposed upon the same and providedwith a suitable seat for the key II. This block is preferably held inposition by the loop 2', extending through the longitudinal slot ttherein. These parts could be otherwise suitably connected together; butI have shown the form which I prefer.

Having thus described and located the various parts of my improvedtire-tightener, I will now state the operation of the machine.

The bolt 1) is first removed and the keys 0 loosened when the machineisset onto the top of a wheel. The weight of. the, machine carries thevarious bolts 64 ct a 01/ into contact with the tire, and as the boltscontrol the position of the jaws i they are brought into proper relationto engage the tire. The bolt 7) is then inserted, as I have beforeindicated, and the side pieces A are clamped thereby onto the sides ofthe wheel. The various parts are then adjusted. The eccentrics arethrown into position indicated in Figs. 1 and The guides 2' are put intoposition. The part I is shut down upon the same, retaining them in lineby little flanges at each side. The key II is then inserted through theapertures therefor in the plates I I and driven tight into position, andthe jaws are all tightened by tightening the bolts a a, disc. Theeccentrics are then operated, carrying the parts toward each other witha in much the same manner as my former machine. Then they are thusbrought together, the key H can be driven out and the guides 2' beopened up by their hinges, and the work performed can thus be readilyinspected, which is of very great advantage. From this it will be seenthat the operation of my improved tightener is very similar to that ofthe machine of my former patent. However, there are many advantages inthis structure over the same.

The serrated jaws are much simpler to manufacture and, being beveled, donot mar the telly, but engage the tire with powerful pressure. Theguides for the central part of the machine is much more securely held inposition.

The guiding-plates for-the exterior of the tire have a positive actionand are easily swung to one side for the inspection of the Work. Thematter of the clamping-bolt for the main side pieces is greatlysimplified and improved.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a tire-tightener, the combination of side pieces A, A; pairs ofupright levers pivoted to the center thereof with suitable connectionsat the tops for actuating the same; side pieces B, B, pivoted to each ofsaid levers having downwardly-extending parts 13 extending within themain side pieces A, toward the outer ends of the same; a slotted link Ghaving a lug G to engage a slot in the side piece A at each side of themachine toward each end; transverse bolts through the said side piecesB, carrying jaw-pieces '6, all coacting substantially as described forthe purpose specified.

2. In a tire-tightener, the combination of side pieces A, A; pairs ofupright levers pivoted to the center thereof with suitable connectionsat the tops for actuating the same; side pieces B, B, pivoted to each ofsaid levers having downwardly-extending parts B extending within themain side pieces A, toward the outer ends of the same; transverse boltsthrough the said side pieces 13, carryingjaw-pieces if, all coactingsubstantially as described for the purpose specified.

3. In a tire-tighteneig'the combination of side pieces A, A; pairs ofupright levers pivoted to the center thereof with suitable connectionsat the tops for actuating the same; side pieces B, B, pivoted to eachside of said levers; a slotted link G having a lug G to engage a slot inthe side pieceA at eachside of the machine toward each end; transversebolts through the said side pieces B, carrying jaw-pieces i, allcoac-ting substantially as described for the purpose specified.

4:. In a tire-tightener, the combination of the main side pieces A withmeans of clamping the same onto a wheel; the upwardly-extending pairs oflevers pivoted to the center thereof with means of actuating the same toand from each other; plates 13 extending from said levers outwardlytoward the ends of the main pieces A having suitable guides at theirouter ends; engaging jaws supported within the plates l3; transversebolts through said plates B provided with both keys and screwthreadednuts; and the notched washers d to be engaged by said keys for adaptingthe tiresetter to different widths of tire, for the purpose specified.

5. In a tire-setting machine, the'combination of a suitable frameworkclamping-plates carried by said framework carrying serrated jaws beveledon the side toward the wheel to engage the tire without marring thetelly, for the purpose specified.

6. In a tire-tightener, the combination of the main frameupwardly-extending levers pivoted thereto; serrated jaws actuated bysaid levers; central blocks I with lips h for engaging under the tireshaving studs to extending through slots in said levers and. connectionsJ; and a screwthreaded nut for clamping the said plates I by the saidcon nection to the upright lever to hold thesame from an upward movementthereby preventing the buckling of the tire; suitable guideblocksbetween said plates I and a key eX- tending through perforations thereinto hold the guide-blocks on the periphery of the tire, for the purposespecified.

7. In a tire-tightener, the combination of a IIO suitable framework;actuating levers for moving pairs of engaging jaws to and from eachother; central supporting-blocks with lips to engage beneath the tire;guidingblocks for resting upon the tire consisting of the hinged part i,11, and the superimposed blocks 1) hinged to one of the blocks 6 and akey extending through suitable apertures in the side blocks I forretaining the same in position, coacting for the purpose specified.

8. In a tire-tightener, the combination of a suitable main frame; pairsof side plates carrying engaging jaws for engaging the opposite sides ofthe tire; guide-plates pivoted to the bolts so that they will bereciprocated thereby and mortised into each other at their inner ends;and wire springs 11 encircling the bolts at each side of the centralguide-plates to support the same above the tire so that they can beeasily turned on their hinges, fo the purpose specified.

9. In a tire-tightener, the combination of oppositely-situated platesbearing engaging jaws to engage the tire; central guide-plates for thesides of the tire; and guides'for the periphery of the tire, the ends ofwhich are mortised together so that they can reciprocate, and the outerends suitably pivoted so that they can be opened for the inspection ofthe work, for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two witnesses.

WILLIAM SCHAU. [L. 8.] Witnesses:

W. J. BELSER, Gno. T. MCGREGOR.

